‘Barely alive’: Road rage suspected in L.A. hit-and-run that killed baby, uncle

Family members of a young child and his uncle killed in a violent West Los Angeles hit-and-run say road rage may have played a role in the crash that left the boy’s aunt on life support and his father hospitalized. The suspect in the deadly collision, described only as an adult Hispanic male, remains at large. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the multi-vehicle crash was reported at 4:34 a.m. near 6800 Vista Del Mar, close to the intersection with Culver Boulevard in Playa del Rey. Oscar Sandoval, 25, was driving his BMW with his 14-month-old son, Roger, along with his 27-year-old brother, Osvaldo Sandoval, and his 15-year-old sister, Andrea Ortiz. The family was returning home after a beach bonfire when a white Jeep slammed into the passenger side of their car. Oscar believes the crash may have been intentional. Family members told KTLA's Rick Chambers that the driver of the white Jeep had been flashing his lights and trying to cut them off just moments before the tragic crash. “The Jeep hit my door where my son and brother were sitting, the ones who took the strongest impact,” Oscar said in Spanish. “My son was still alive, but barely.” Osvaldo was pronounced dead at the scene. Baby Roger was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. Ortiz remains on life support at UCLA Medical Center. “I could see chaos, lights flashing and smoke, and then I started hearing these screams that I can’t forget,” said Mike Mollney, who lives near the crash site. “It’s just terrible.” While Roger’s mother is still trying to come to terms with the unimaginable loss, his grandmother, Maria Sandoval, said she is praying for strength and added that the hardest, most painful part is still ahead. Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said detectives are actively searching for the driver involved in the deadly hit-and-run. So far, no arrests have been made.